Valve cracking down on CSGO gambling sites

[Desmond]

Finally Valve grows a pair and takes matters into their hands.

For the past couple years Counter-Strike: Global Offensive gambling sites have popped up on the internet with increasing frequency. While some of these sites have been run in an ethical manner, providing an entertaining service for one of the world's most popular games, some sites have used their positioning to exploit users, jeopardizing the reputation of other gambling sites as well as CS: GO in the process. Valve isn't happy.

Today, Valve issued a violation to more than a dozen websites that provide gambling services for CS: GO players. The letter states that all gambling sites are breaking the Steam Subscriber Agreement, and are subject to punishment, as seen below.

*media.gamerevolution.com/images/misc/P9S6RWT.jpg

This comes just two weeks after h3h3Productions produced a globally popular video titled 'Deception, Lies, and CSGO' detailing the ways that two gambling site owners in particular used their position to exploit users in an unethical manner. The video is teetering on five million views, and spurred education of the subject matter to a large audience.

Controversy stemmed from gambling site owners using their own services to market their brand on sites like YouTube and Twitch, which is a huge no-no in the world of gambling. Some people also suspect that sites regularly modify odds when using their own service to win in marketing situations. These websites face potential legal issues for their actions.

Each of the sites listed in the letter will have 10 days to comply. If the cease and desist isn't followed, Valve will be in a position to terminate accounts associated with the websites.

Source: Valve Is Cracking Down On CS: GO Gambling Sites... Finall

 

[TheSloth]

I saw that h3h3 video when it came. It was massive. They exposed few youtubers who were gambling on CS:GO Lotto amd posting videos on youtube. Everything looked fine, they seem to be very lucky mostly but it was all farce, they were the owners of CS:GO Lotto. I thnk youtube is yet to take any action against them as they didn't mention in any of the video or it's description that they were owners.

 

[Desmond]

Youtube is just as slow as Valve at taking action against perpetrators. Probably if Valve reported these guys to Youtube then they might have taken action.

Valve actually indirectly makes millions off these sites. They are taking action now mostly because this has become a huge controversy.

If the FTC steps in, then these CSGOLotto guys might do jail time.

 

[TheSloth]

I didn't know Valve makes money indirectly from these sites.
Yeah, let's see what happens. It is interesting to follow. All those youtubers had millions of suscribers(don't know currently).

 

[Desmond]

Basically whenever you sell something on the Steam Market, Valve gets a cut of the selling amount.

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[thetechfreak]

Kind of glad all these sites are being finally forced to close. There will be a loss in viewership of matches, especially smaller tournaments but atleast teams can't "throw"

I didn't know Valve makes money indirectly from these sites.
Yeah, let's see what happens. It is interesting to follow. All those youtubers had millions of suscribers(don't know currently).

They don't take anything from the gambling sites. They only take from steam market which is well within their rights.

 

[Vyom]

So to explain a noob who is totally unaware of the CS Go ecosystem, who this action of Valve directly impacts? The players, tournament players, streamers or website owners and how?

 

[thetechfreak]

The players, tournament players, streamers or website owners and how?

First of all read this: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive » Integrity and Fair Pla

Basically, it was a huge throw by that team for virtual weapons that hold real world value. The gambling takes place on the said sites. Recently, a lawsuit was filed against Valve about how they take profits from gambling sites(which is wrong) but there were some other right points in the lawsuit. Valve has whitelisted trade bots of various sites which doesn't need them to use mobile authentication like us.

So, with this all these sites will be shut. People who gamble will be hit. Smaller tournaments who had their matches listed will be hit, as viewership will probably decrease. The number of under aged children gambling was a huge problem. Coming to streaming, a few streamers have been hit since Twitch made some changes to the TOS that didn't let gambling over 30 mins(and one major streamer banned after revelation that he was owner of the site & was using rigged rolls on such sites to ensure he wins and also laundering money through fake Twitch subs).

All in all, CSGO economy(Dota 2 economy to a lesser extent) will probably have a shakeup. People might dump high value stuff for less the day these sites go down. Hits the whole CSGO and Dota 2 scene as a whole.

 

[Desmond]

Main concern is to prevent children from gambling. The CSGOLotto terms of service showed that the age limit for the users was 13 years and over.

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BTW, here's the h3h3productions video explaining the whole drama in detail:

 

[chimera201]

Two weeks on, has the YouTube CS:GO Lotto controversy changed anything? • Eurogamer.net

 

[thetechfreak]

Sites who act as "rebels" will just have their bots seized/blacklisted again. Anyone who has anything on such sites should withdraw ASAP

 

[Desmond]

Haven't bet anything since Dota 2 Asia Championship.

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